Delivery of liquids into containers

ABSTRACT

The invention provides a simple device for quickly deliverying an equal predetermined volume of a liquid simultaneously into each of a plurality of identical containers. The device is particularly adapted for use in schools, hospitals, cafeterias and the like, particularly when numerous servings are required during a relatively short period of time. Use of the invention obviates the tedious and time-consuming manual operations required to fill paper cups and similar containers one at a time, and furthermore automatically insure delivery of an equal amount of a liquid into a plurality of containers simultaneously. Displacement means included in the device provide for a uniform liquid level in each container below the brim.

United States Patent 1 Oates 1 May 15, 1973 [54] DELIVERY OF LIQUIDS INTO FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS CONTAINERS 25,490 8/1898 Great Britain ..l41/237 [76] Inventor: John E. Oates, 6329 Alamo Avenue,

Clayton, Mo. 63105 Primary Examiner-Houston S. Bell, Jr. 2 Filed: June 3" 1971 Attorney-George J. Mager 1 pp 149,702 57 ABSTRACT The invention provides a simple device for quickly U.S. delive ying an equa] predetermined volume of a lift. Cl. simultaneously into each of a pflurality of identical [58] Fleld of Search ..4/146; 53/390; ontainef5 The device is particularly adapted for use 5, in schools, hospitals, cafeterias and the like, particu- 222/571 larly when numerousservings are required during a relatively short period of time. Use of the invention References Clted obviates the tedious and time-consuming manual operations required to fill paper cups and similar con- UNITED STATES PATENTS tainers one at a time, and furthermore automatically 212,494 2/1879 Paddock ..14l/238 insure delivery of an equal amount of a liquid into a 3,551,918 97l Bergmark---.. -.4/l46 plurality of containers simultaneously. Displacement 2,239,852 7/ 1942 Mofldlochmmeans included in the device provide for a uniform 3,423,234 l/1969 Heine ..222/571 X liquid level in each container below the brim 745,051 11/1903 Goff ..141/237 1 Claim, 9 Drawing Figures i (I u I l l l I ll Q f I i l k3! Q1" J \V/II I 16 P 2" 1 f? 44 42:

0 I 1] Q 1 )1 11 1, I

v I \4 :9 =4 $1 6 6 12 f 44 f I /A\ K I 45 6 A A 7 r 40-" 1 i o El p \1 i y "'40 JKII l \9 ll x 44 44 ll 28 u 1 DELIVERY OF LIQUIDS INTO CONTAINERS FIELD OF THE INVENTION The primary objective of this invention is to provide means whereby a selected plurality of conventional cups or containers may simultaneously be charged with a determined equal volume of a liquid such as milk, tomato juice, fruit juice, soda, and the like. It is also an object of the invention to at the same time provide for an unfilled area between the liquid level and the brim of each container, for the application thereto if desired, of a conventional lid or cover having a depressed central portion as is understood. Another objective is to provide means for preserving the overflow of liquids for future use.

To this end, the invention provides a filler tray, preferably of rectangular configuration having a peripheral horizontal flange extending outwardly from the upper portions of its side and end walls. The bottom wall of the tray has a pair of longitudinal depressions or troughs formed therein that extend along the lower portions of the side walls from the rear end wall to the front end wall of the tray. Each of these longitudinal trough formations merges into one of a pair of similar transverse formations along the lower portion of said front end wall. The front end troughs slope inwardly and downwardly to converge at a central opening leading into a therebelow drain pipe that depends from the bottom wall of the tray, and incorporates a conventional manually operable valve whereby liquid flow through the drain pipe is controlled.

Depending from the bottom wall of the tray and disposed in equally spaced longitudinal and transverse rows, is a plurality of cone-shaped liquid displacement nipples each having a vertical central opening therethrough that communicates at its upper end with the interior of the tray. It is noted at this point, that the size of the liquid displacement nipples may be varied, whereby to regulate the volume of liquid delivered to each container. Thus for example relatively to five ounce containers, the nipples would be so dimensioned as to effect a one ounce or other selected displacement of liquid.

These central openings are also slightly tapered whereby to facilitate flow of liquids therethrough from the tray interior into therebelow disposed cups or containers. The nipples preferably have flat bottom faces whereinto the lower extremities of the central openings merge in rounded or beveled fashion whereby to prevent dripping, when as will appear the tray is lifted by means of said peripheral flange subsequent to a filling operation.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION My copending application, filed Dec. 18, I970, Ser. No. 99,545, discloses means for the Delivery of Flowable Materials into Containers. In -that application, a manually operable scraper blade cooperates with the filler tray to insure uniform filling of containers, inasmuch as the materials being delivered though flowable, are not actually fluid.

In the present invention, the various liquids introduced into the tray flow into the containers automatically. The dependent displacement nipples are of course sized to insure delivery of an exact determined volume of liquid into each ofa plurality of similar cups or containers simultaneously. There is no spillage or waste of liquid, inasmuch as surplus liquids automatically flow into the depressed drain formations to gravitate toward and into the drain pipe. The associated control valve, (closed at the time a sufficient quantity of liquid is introduced into the tray), would be opened immediately thereafter, whereby surplus liquid will drain from the tray into a suitable receptacle positioned below the bottom end of said drain pipe. Alternatively and preferably, a flexible hose leading to the liquid supply source would be attached to the discharge end of the drain pipe.

The'containers to be filled may be appropriately aligned and supported on any horizontal surface, preferably in open cartons having spacing indications on their bottom walls, so that filled containers may be removed and replaced by empty containers quickly.

The invention is illustrated on a sheet of drawings that accompanies this specification, and a more comprehensive understanding of its features and advantages may be had from the description to follow with reference to said drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS F IG. 1 is a top plan view of a typical tray adapted to attain the objectives of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view thereof, a detachable hose being shown in section;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged, partly broken away, transverse section taken .on the line 3--3 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged transverse section taken on the line 44 of FIG. 1;

FIGS. 5 and 6 are enlarged fragmentary longitudinal sections, taken respectively on the lines 5--5 and 6-6 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 7 is a top plan view on a reduced scale, ofa conventional open carton loaded with a plurality of empty typical containers;

FIG. 8 is a side elevational view, partly in section, of

FIG. 7; and

FIG. 9 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view illustrating the invention in use.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT The illustrated tray of the invention is generally indicated by the numeral 10. The tray includes a bottom wall 12, opposed side walls 14, a rear end wall 16, a front end wall 18, and a peripheral flange 20 that projects laterally from the upper portions of said walls. Formed in the bottom wall 12, and extending along the side wall 14 from the rear end wall 16 to the front end wall 18, is a longitudinal trough formation 22 that merges into a transverse trough formation 24 along said front wall. Also formed in the bottom wall, and extending along the opposite side wall 14 from said rear end wall to the front end wall 18, is a longitudinal trough Depending from the bottom wall 16 is a plurality of equally spaced liquid displacement nipples generally designated 40. Each nipple includes an identical circular body portion 42 having a central opening 44 therein, and a flat bottom wall 46. As shown, the outer peripheral surfaces 48 of the body portions 42 are slightly tapered downwardly and inwardly, and preferably the openings 44 are similarly tapered, each terminating adjacent the bottom wall 46 in a rounded or chamfered formation at 50.

In FIGS. 7 and 8, a typical carton or master tray A is shown to include a bottom wall B, opposed side walls D, and opposed end walls E. Such cartons are commercially available, are usually of cardboard or plastic, and may be had in accordance with specifications. Thus in the instant case, the carton A would be so dimensioned as to rather snugly surround and support a plurality of conventional cups or containers C arranged in a pattern corresponding to that of the displacement nipples 40. It is to be understood no claim is made herein to the cartons A nor to the containers C. Use

Although it is believed that the manner of using the invention should be apparent from the description and an inspection of the drawings, a further brief explanation is given with particular reference to FIG. 9.

In this fragmentary transverse sectional view, the carton of FIGS. 7 and 8 is shown disposed upon a table top or other horizontal surface S. Assuming that the tray 10 is empty and that the valve 34 is closed, said tray would be manipulated via the flange into position atop the container C, the tapered outer peripheries of the nipples 40 serving to facilitate such operation. (The drawings illustrate a carton A supporting therein eighteen containers C, but it will be understood that this showing is exemplary only). With the tray 10 thus supported atop the containers, a supply of liquid is entered into said tray and the major portion thereof automatically enters the containers, with any surplus flowing into he groove formations 22, 24, 26 and 28. Momentarily thereupon, the valve 34 would be opened, the tray lifted, and the valve 34 would be closed preparatory to the next filling operation.

In view of the foregoing description and the drawings, it is believed that a comprehensive presentation of the invention and its inherent features has been given. It should of course be understood that the illustrated structural details may be modified somewhat without departing from the primary concepts of this invention.

What is claimed is:

1. In combination with a therebelow positioned carton supporting therein a plurality of spaced identical containers, means for delivering a determined portion of a liquid into each of the containers, for simultaneously providing an unfilled space in each container between the liquid level therein and the brim thereof, and for preserving the overflow non-delivered portion of the liquid for subsequent use, said means comprisa rectangular flller tray having a bottom wall, op-

posed side walls, a rear wall and a front wall;

a laterally outwardly projecting peripheral flange integral with the upper end portions of said walls for manually positioning the tray atop the containers and removing said tray therefrom; plurality of identical spaced liquid displacement nipples depending from the bottom wall of the tray, each of said nipples being composed of a circular body portion having a vertical central opening therethrough in fluid communication at its upper end with the interior of the tray, the outer peripheral surface of said body portion being slightly tapered downwardly and inwardly, the body portion terminating in a flat bottom face, the vertical central opening being similarly tapered and terminating adjacent said bottom face in a chamfered formation;

a pair of longitudinal and a pair of transverse trough formations in the tray bottom wall to automatically receive therein the surplus portion of the liquid entered into the tray after the major portion of said liquid had been delivered to the containers, each longitudinal trough formation extending along one of the side walls of the tray from the rear end wall to the front end wall thereof, each transverse trough formation extending along the front wall of the tray, merging into the forward end portion of one of the longitudinal trough formations, and sloping downwardly to convergence with a central opening in the bottom wall of the tray; and

drain pipe integral therewith depending from the bottom wall of the tray in fluid communication with said opening, said drain pipe incorporating a hand valve for alternatively placing same in closed and open status. 

1. In combination with a therebelow positioned carton supporting therein a plurality of spaced identical containers, means for delivering a determined portion of a liquid into each of the containers, for simultaneously providing an unfilled space in each container between the liquid level therein and the brim thereof, and for preserving the overflow non-delivered portion of the liquid for subsequent use, said means comprising: a rectangular filler tray having a bottom wall, opposed side walls, a rear wall and a front wall; a laterally outwardly projecting peripheral flange integral with the upper end portions of said walls for manually positioning the tray atop the containers and removing said tray therefrom; a plurality of identical spaced liquid displacement nipples depending from the bottom wall of the tray, each of said nipples being composed of a circular body portion having a vertical central opening therethrough in fluid communication at its upper end with the interior of the tray, the outer peripheral surface of said body portion being slightly tapered downwardly and inwardly, the body portion terminating in a flat bottom face, the vertical central opening being similarly tapered and terminating adjacent said bottom face in a chamfered formation; a pair of longitudinal and a pair of transverse trough formations in the tray bottom wall to automatically receive therein the surplus portion of the liquid entered into the tray after the major portion of said liquid had been delivered to the containers, each longitudinal trough formation extending along one of the side walls of the tray from the rear end wall to the front end wall thereof, each transverse trough formation extending along the front wall of the tray, mergiNg into the forward end portion of one of the longitudinal trough formations, and sloping downwardly to convergence with a central opening in the bottom wall of the tray; and a drain pipe integral therewith depending from the bottom wall of the tray in fluid communication with said opening, said drain pipe incorporating a hand valve for alternatively placing same in closed and open status. 